KR20120128633A - Assembly of an overmold having hooks and a mold comprising a pedestal - Google Patents

Abstract

Firstly, as an overmolded element with hooks, designed to be overmolded in a molded article, the overmolded member is an open interior space defined by two end sidewalls and a bottom. A protruding hook extending from the member therefrom; Secondly, said mold having inner walls that form an inner volume shaped like an article to be formed by molding in a mold, wherein at least one pedestal projects from the inner wall (s) into the inner volume; The overmolded member is in contact with the pedestal while a molding foam is being cast, the pedestal comprising a rail-shaped portion having two opposing outer sides; The assembly of claim 1, wherein the end sidewall of each of the overmolded member contacts the respective opposite outer sides without hooks interposed therebetween, while the foam is being cast.

Description

ASSEMBLY OF AN OVERMOLD HAVING HOOKS AND A MOLD COMPRISING A PEDESTAL}

The present invention relates, in particular, to an overmolded member having a foam article and hooks which are designed to be overmolded in an overmolded article during molding, in particular an overmolded article which is an automobile cushion. The invention also relates to an assembly made of a mold comprising an overmolded member of this type and a pedestal that works with the overmolded member during molding. The invention also relates to a molded article having a main body made of a molding material, in particular a foam, and an overmolded member of the above-mentioned type overmolded in the main body. The present invention also relates to a unit made of a molded article of this type, in particular an automobile cushion, and a cover covering the outer surface of the molded article, wherein the molded article, in particular the molded cushion and the cover Hooks extending from the member have hooks overmolded in the molded article while loops relate to a unit generated by a hook-and-loop device extending from the cover. The invention also relates to a method of making a molded article of the type described above.

Nowadays, it is common to use hook-and-loop auto-fasteners or “touch fasteners” to secure the fabric cover to the outer surface of molded thermoplastic foam cushions for automobiles. Conventionally, an overmolded member constituted by a strip of thermoplastic material has a side on which the hook protrudes while the metallic resin is fixed to the other side. The overmolded member with hooks then places a cavity, in particular formed in the upper surface of the pedestal, over the pedestal, in particular formed at the bottom of the mold. The cavity formed at the bottom of the mold at the top surface of the pedestal has vertical walls on which the overmolded member with hooks is located with the hooks arranged inside the cavity while the foam is used to obtain the molded article by molding. Poured inside. At the lower end of the cavity, a magnet is arranged to pull the overmolded member via the metallic resin and to remain in contact with the top edges of the vertical walls with good sealing to the foam. After the foam is cast and cooled and set, the molded article is overmolded with an overmolded member having hooks, and then the cover is molded around the molded article by hooks and loops that work together. To secure, the hooks can operate with loops formed on the outer surface of the molded article and associated with the cover (or with the hooks when the auto-fastener device is a hook-in-hook device).

This prior art has several disadvantages. Firstly, a cavity for protecting the hooks needs to be formed at the top of the pedestal, for example by machining. Moreover, during the molding process, the prior art requires a significant amount of labor to place the overmolded member on the pedestal, which is disadvantageous for large scale fabrication. Moreover, the magnets located in the protective cavities formed in the pedestal deteriorate over time as the mold is repeatedly heated and cooled. When these magnets need to be placed, it takes time during the production process and the operation is costly and time consuming.

In a first aspect, an object of the present invention is to overmolded a hooked article in a molded article without the need for a protective cavity and without the need for a magnet to be used, without protecting the hooks from the casting foam during less favorable molding. A system for overmolding members is proposed to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

In a first aspect, the present invention is, firstly, an overmolded element with hooks designed to be overmolded in a molded article, the overmolded member having two end sidewalls and Forming an open inner space defined by a floor from which one or more hooks extending from the member protrude or from which some hooks extending from the member protrude; Secondly, the mold having inner wall (s) forming an inner volume shaped like an article to be formed by molding in a mold, wherein at least one pedestal is internal from the inner wall (s). The overmolded member protruding into the volume and having hooks is in contact with the pedestal while a forming foam is cast, the pedestal having a rail-side having two opposing outer sides, in particular parallel sides. Comprising a shaped portion; An assembly comprising: wherein the end sidewall of each of the overmolded member is in contact with each opposing outer side without hooks interposed therebetween, while the foam is being cast. An assembly is provided.

According to the invention, the pedestal is provided with two such that the sidewalls are supported against two sides, in a particularly elastic manner, to provide a seal from the liquid foam which is poured into the inner space to the hooks without damage to the hooks. It is clamped between the side walls. In particular, the hooks are not gripped unlike between the walls of the pedestal and the overmolded member, wherein the two walls are supported against each other and thus not compressed as in the prior art.

Thus, a good seal from the foam is provided at the contact between the sides of the pedestal and the walls of the overmolded member so that the hooks are well protected. In order to ensure good positioning of the overmolded member and good protection of the hooks, firstly no further preparation has to be made to form a cavity on top of the pedestal, or secondly with magnets and metal materials There is no need to provide a system, or any more complicated devices for protecting hooks from liquid foam poured during molding. It is thus possible to simplify the method of positioning the overmolded member with hooks in the mold before molding, in particular the method of positioning it, and additionally the mold itself can have a simpler structure. At the end of the molding, hooks are formed that are formed outside the shaped article, at the bottom of the groove or trough, which may be narrow (especially as narrow as a pedestal), in particular narrower than in the prior art.

In a preferred embodiment, the overmolded member with hooks presses and clamps the pedestal between the two side walls.

In particular, contact between the overmolded member and respective walls of the pedestal takes place along respective lines, in particular straight lines. Preferably, the innermost end edges of the two side walls are straight, preferably parallel to each other, and in the plan view from above, the two outer sides of the rail have the same straight shape such that the respective contact lines are straight.

In an improvement, the contact between the pedestal and the member with the hooks is caused by clipping.

Preferably, while the foam is being cast, some of the hooks, in particular all the hooks, are distanced from the rail and in particular from the top thereof. Optionally, they can be in a straight line, ie the tops of the hooks can contact the top of the rail, so that the rail can contact without any pressure on them, and in particular without the rail deforming them. Can be.

Preferably, the hook does not protrude from the inner surfaces of the end side walls, and all the hooks protrude only from the bottom of the member with the hooks.

In a preferred embodiment, each side wall of the member with hooks has an innermost end edge, and the height of the highest point of the hooks is smaller than the height of the innermost end edges; The pedestal comprises a rail-shaped portion with two opposing outer sides spaced apart and shaped the same as the shape of the end edges of the sidewalls of the overmolded member, the thickness of the rail, ie the two said measured in a given direction. The distance between the sides is slightly greater than the distance between the two end edges of the two side walls in the given direction.

Preferably, the two side walls have a hook shape, a C-shape, a circular arch shape, or a similar shape when viewed in cross section, and are slightly inclined toward each other.

Preferably, the overmolded member also has front and rear walls, which walls extend transverse to the side walls, and the pedestal has a top having a shape complementary to the shape of the upper edges of the front and rear walls. It is optionally interposed with sealing ribs, which can be laid against the upper edges of the walls and extending along the upper edges of the front and rear walls.

Thus the open interior space in which the hooks lie within is completely closed, and then the hooks are firstly at the contact between the two sidewalls of the overmolded member and the two sides of the rail, and secondly the front and rear walls And particularly well protected from foam at the top of the rail.

Preferably, the upper edges of each of the front and rear walls are larger than the highest point of the hooks, but at each height smaller than the height of the upper edges of the two side walls.

In a preferred embodiment, one or more sealing ribs are provided that extend along each one or both of the upper edges of the front and rear walls.

Preferably, in cross section, at least a portion of the upper surface of the overmolded member with hooks, between the two side walls, has an arcuate shape that is substantially circularly curved, especially in the region in which the hooks extend.

In another embodiment, each innermost upper edge forms a curved line, in particular a circular arch line, and in the plan view from above, the two sides have a shape corresponding to the curved line, the respective contact lines Is constituted by the curved lines.

Preferably, the base plate of the overmolded member extends outwards beyond the two side walls, forming one or more outer brims.

In the finished molded article, these two upper ends are completely surrounded by the foam, and this fixation in the foam yields good strength for the fastening of the overmolded member to the molded article. Good fixation of the molded article in the foam at the end of the molding is appropriate to the molded article while the overmolded member is released from the pedestal (which is then secured and overmolded on the molded article). To ensure that the bond is maintained.

Good fixation of the overmolded member in the foam of the molded article is further facilitated by the fact that the foam contacts the top surfaces of the side walls.

Preferably, one or each sidewall has an outer rib, the rail has a maximum thickness at the ribs or at each rib, the two ribs are at particularly the same level and the thickness of the rail is The distance between the two outermost points of the ribs.

The invention also relates to a molded article having a main body made of a molding material, in particular a thermoplastic foam, and at least one overmolded member having hooks of the assembly of the invention, which member is overmolded on the molded main body. And the foam is in contact with the overmolded member in cross section over the entire perimeter of the overmolded member, except for an open interior space extending from one inner upper edge to another inner upper edge of the two sidewall portions. On the overmolded member, a groove is formed which opens out of the molded body, the groove being at least one corresponding to the distance (s) between the two inner upper edges of the two side walls of the pedestal of the assembly of the invention. It has a shape complementary to the shape of the rail having a thickness.

The invention also provides a molded article of the invention and a unit made of a cover or covering covering the outer surface of the molded article, in particular made of fabric, while fitting the shape of the outer surface to fit snugly. do.

The invention also provides a unit comprising a molded article and a cover at least partially covering an outer surface of the molded article, wherein one or more longitudinal grooves or troughs are formed in the molded article and open outwardly, hooks At least one member having an overmolded article overmolded to at least partially form the bottom of the groove, with several hooks and preferably holes of loops extending from the cover to secure the cover to the molded article Penetrate into.

In a second aspect of the invention, independent of the first aspect and forming the invention itself, two or more overmolded members having hooks arranged one after the other in the longitudinal direction to form at least partially the bottom of the trough. Overmolded elements are provided, wherein the two members with hooks are separated from each other by an intermediate region without the member with hooks therein; Means are provided for preventing the cover from rising up towards the top of the trough, in particular in the intermediate region or in each intermediate region.

Therefore, hook-and-loop auto-fixes are used in small amounts to secure the cover around the article, without adversely affecting the pull strength, which is preserved or in particular improved by anti-taming means, or has a fixed reliability or It has a very desirable effect on cost without adversely affecting the very simplicity that the assembly can be manufactured or mounted.

Preferably, the loops extend from the outer surface of the pocket fixed to the cover, and the means for preventing the riding effect are constituted by a wire extending within the pocket.

Therefore, compared to the prior art in which hook-and-loop systems are also provided for securing the cover to the molded article, fewer hooks are provided, which significantly reduces the cost and instead provides a rigid wire, which is It is especially made of thermoplastic material, which should make it possible to obtain good or better upward pull strength despite less expensive. In addition, it is nevertheless possible to use straight overmolded members with gutters which do not extend in a straight line but with curved portions, and applying them to the curved portions is that they can be spaced apart from each other and the trough This is facilitated by the fact that it does not need to be arranged continuously over the entire length of the elongation, and these members otherwise need to have corresponding curved shapes.

Preferably, the loops extend from the outer surface of the pocket fixed to the cover and the means for preventing the riding effect are constituted by a wire extending inside the pocket.

Preferably, the loops extend from the bottom part of the periphery of the pocket, in particular only from this part.

In an improvement, the length of the intermediate region, ie the distance between two consecutive adjacent overmolded members in the longitudinal direction, results in a riding effect without wires; The material and dimensions of the wire are rigid enough to have a smaller riding effect when accommodated in the pocket, and in particular no longer riding effect.

Thus, by providing a rigid wire, in particular a wire that is rigid in the vertical plane, since the overmolded members extend over a ratio less than the length of the trough extending thereon, there is no longer a riding effect, and the overmolded member The material cost for forming them is saved. Moreover, it is easy to insert a member with loops into the trough because the wire has support and guarantee function for such insertion. Moreover, in gutters that include curved portions that do not extend in a straight line, it is nevertheless adapted to fit the curved portions by the fact that they can be spaced apart from one another and the troughs need not be positioned continuously over the entire length of the elongation. It is possible to use straight overmolded members, otherwise the members would need to have a corresponding curved shape.

In a preferred embodiment, in cross section, each overmolded member with hooks has a U-shape or a C-shape, the two branches of which extend toward the outside of the groove, The self-shaped or C-shaped inner surface has two distal segments without hooks protruding and an intermediate bottom segment from which hooks of an overmolded member having hooks protrude therefrom.

In an advantageous embodiment, the groove has two sides formed by the material from which the molded article is molded, which faces the top of each of the U-shaped branches of each member having hooks from the outside. Or the inner surface of each of the two U-shaped or C-shaped branches extending to the terminal edges is flush with the respective sides.

In particular, the sides of the groove are vertical and register with the inner upper edges of the respective branches of the U-shaped or C-shaped.

In a preferred embodiment, the groove comprises one or more segments of curved shape extending from one or more overmolded members that are straight or curved shapes, the length of the overmolded members being less than the length of the curved segments.

Preferably, the width of the groove is defined as the shortest distance between two opposing walls, in particular when the members with hooks are aligned in a given direction, the width of the trough is measured at right angles to the given direction and excludes loops. And the sum of the width dimension of the member with the loops, ie the width dimension of the wire and twice the thickness of the pocket (except for the loops), is substantially equal to the width of the trough and nevertheless is slightly smaller than the width of the trough.

Preferably, the distance between the innermost points of each of the upper edges of the U-shaped or C-shaped two branches of each overmolded member is substantially a member having loops except for loops. Is substantially equal to the sum of the width dimension of, i.e., the width dimension of the wire and twice the thickness of the pocket (except for the loops), and nevertheless is slightly larger than this width dimension.

Preferably, the pocket is secured to the cover, in particular being sewn on it, at the two parts of the cover or at the overlapping part of the two edges of the sheets.

Preferably, the distance that the intermediate region extends between two or more overmolded members with hooks is greater than 50% of the maximum dimension of the length dimension, in particular of each overmolded member, preferably each overmolded member Is greater than the maximum length dimension.

Preferably, the length between the at least two overmolded members is in the range of at least 20 mm, in particular at least 100 mm, in particular in the range from 100 mm to 500 mm.

Preferably, the wire has an elliptical cross section, in particular the major axis of the elliptic shape is directed outwardly from the bottom of the trough, ie substantially perpendicular to the bottom of each overmolded member. Extend.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the wire has a square or rectangular cross section, the corners of which are rounded and, in particular, when the wire has a rectangular cross section its length extends outward from the bottom of the trough.

Thus, by providing a rigid wire, since the overmolded members extend over a ratio less than the length of the trough extending thereon, there is no longer a climbing effect, and the material cost for forming the overmolded members is reduced. do. Moreover, it is easy to insert a member with loops into the trough because the wire has support and guarantee function for such insertion. Moreover, in gutters that include curved portions that do not extend in a straight line, it is nevertheless adapted to fit the curved portions by the fact that they can be spaced apart from one another and the troughs need not be positioned continuously over the entire length of the elongation. It is possible to use straight overmolded members, otherwise the members would need to have a corresponding curved shape.

In a preferred embodiment, the trough comprises one or more segments of curved shape extending from one or more overmolded members that are straight, wherein the length of the overmolded members is less than the length of the curved segments.

Preferably, the shape of the pocket when the wire is inserted therein is at least partially complementary to the shape of the cross section of the area of the upper surfaces of the members with hooks from which the hooks extend, in particular the wire having a circular cross section while The area has a circular arch cross section.

Preferably, the pocket is secured to the cover, in particular being sewn upon it, at the two parts of the cover or at the overlapping part of the two edges of the sheets.

Preferably, the width of the trough or groove is defined as the shortest distance between two opposing walls, in particular when the members with hooks are aligned in a given direction, the width of the trough is measured at right angles to the given direction and the loops The sum of the width dimension of the member, ie the width dimension of the wire and twice the thickness of the pocket, is substantially equal to the width of the trough, in particular slightly less than the width of the trough.

The invention also provides a method of manufacturing a molded article, in particular a unit in a second aspect of the invention.

The method of the present invention for producing an article molded by molding, in particular a molded article in the second aspect of the present invention, makes a mold having the same shape as the article to be molded, and the rail-shaped pedestals A method comprising steps projecting from a wall of a defining mold, the method comprising: sealing each of the interior spaces between two walls of the overmolded member and pouring the foam to mold the article, the two or more respective contacts Characterized by clamping the pedestal by an overmolded member with two spaced apart sidewalls such that the two sidewalls of the member with hooks are supported against two sides of the pedestal along lines of contact. It is done.

In a third aspect independent of the first and second aspects and forming the invention itself, the invention also provides an overmolded member with hooks. By the way, this may be designed as part of the assembly of the first aspect of the invention, and / or as part of the unit of the second aspect of the present invention.

In a third aspect of the invention, an opening having a maximum width measured from a direction extending from one wall to another, at least one hook, preferably a plurality of hooks and in particular perpendicular to two walls, extending from the bottom The overmolded member with hooks comprising two sidewalls spaced apart from the floor in a manner to form a defined interior space such that the distance between the two innermost points of the upper edges of the two walls is less than the maximum width. The upper or distal portions of the two side walls are inclined with respect to each other.

Preferably, in the cross section through the walls, the bottom is constituted by a central straight segment ending at both sides by each right or left segment that is substantially circularly arcuate in shape, in particular in the region in which the hooks extend therefrom.

Preferably, the hooks of the overmolded member project only from the bottom of the interior space.

Embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings.

1 is a perspective view from above of an overmolded member having hooks of the present invention;
2 is a cross-sectional view of the line AA of FIG. 1;
3A, 3B, and 3C are cross-sectional views of portions of each molded article of the present invention, including the overmolded member of FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively;
4A and 4B are side views illustrating each pedestal and an overmolded member with hooks of FIGS. 1 and 2, in the shape of a rail on which an overmolded member with hooks is placed;
5A and 5B are similar to those of FIGS. 4A and 4B, but in a sealed manner, in a sealed manner, to protect the internal space for receiving hooks in an overmolded member with hooks (in the manner of a clip) FIG. 5A shows a state in which each rail-shaped pedestal is forcibly inserted, wherein the assembly of FIG. 5A corresponds to the molded article of FIG. 3A, and the assembly of FIG. 5B corresponds to the molded article of FIG. 3B. ;
6 is a cross-sectional view of a member with loops of the present invention extending from a cover designed to cover the molded article of FIG.
7 and 8 show when a wire made of a rigid plastic material is inside the pocket (FIG. 8), and not in it (FIG. 7), when covered by a cover comprising the member with the loops of FIG. 6. 3 schematically shows how a member with hooks and a member with loops work together at the bottom of the trough of the molded article of FIG. 3;
9 is a schematic illustration of an overmolded member with hooks of another embodiment in a sectional view equivalent to that of FIG. 2;
10 is a cross-sectional view of a trough of a molded article of the assembly of the present invention, which is equivalent to FIG. 4 or 5;
11 is a cross-sectional view of a trough of a molded article of the assembly of the present invention;
12 is equivalent to FIG. 11 of an assembly of another embodiment of the present invention;
13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a cover for covering a molded article of the present invention;
14 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a cover for covering a molded article of the present invention;
FIG. 15 is a view of a molded article on a trough, consisting of curved segments and straight segments in this embodiment; FIG.
16 is equivalent to FIG. 4 or 5 of a pedestal of another possible embodiment of the assembly of the present invention; And
FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view equivalent to the diagram of FIG. 2 showing an overmolded member of another embodiment having hooks with a flat bottom extending hooks. FIG.

In the drawings, in particular in FIG. 1, a perspective view is shown which shows an overmolded member which can be implemented with the first and / or second aspects of the invention and has the hooks of the third aspect of the invention. The member 1 is designed to be placed in a mold to form a molded article by molding, wherein the article to be molded is made of a molding material, in particular a foam, more particularly a thermoplastic foam. When the foam is poured into the mold, the foam comes into contact with the overmolded member in a liquid manner and is then fixed to the overmolded member by curing. When the foam is poured into the mold, the goal is to protect the hooks so that the foam does not penetrate under the hooks and contaminate them, because once the foam is under the hooks, they cannot be used and are hooked to the hooking and loops. Because you can no longer work with the loops to perform the function of locking the hook.

The overmolded member 1 comprises a plate 2 having a rectangular bottom of long length L and width l. The length L extends in the longitudinal length of the overmolded member and the width l extends in the transverse direction. The two side walls 3, 4 extend from the upper side of the plate 2. Each such side wall 3, 4 has an upper edge, which in this example has a line 5, 6 consisting of points of the innermost, ie upper edge closest to the other wall. In cross section, in particular in FIG. 2, each of these lines 5, 6 forms a respective innermost point. These two lines 5, 6 are straight lines in this example. In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 9, these top edges are not necessarily flat surfaces, but may be stepped. Therefore, in FIG. 9, the upper edge has a horizontal first face (corresponding to the top surface of the wall 3 excluding the ribs) and is then laminated with respect to the first face and the wall (from the innermost point of the second horizontal plane). A second horizontal plane (top surface of the rib) is followed, which is terminated by the curved portion extending to the innermost point of the curved portion corresponding to the innermost points of the upper edges of 3, 4).

Therefore, in cross section, in particular the cross-sectional view of AA in FIG. 1, and as shown in FIG. 2, the overmolded member is substantially U-shaped or C-shaped, and U-shaped or C-shaped The branches consist of two walls 3, 4.

The U-shaped inner surface consists of three segments, two end segments, each from the innermost point 5, or from the innermost point 6, the outermost hook on either side. Extends to the bottom middle segment formed by 38. Therefore, in the two end segments, there are no protruding hooks, and all the hooks of the overmolded member protrude from the bottom middle segment.

In order to precisely define the bottom of the overmolded member of the present invention, the first defining method consists in defining the bottom as the smallest surface that takes into account the hooks and defines the interior space in which all the hooks lie. .

The second method is, in each cross section, vertically (i. E., On the inner surface forming an inner space to obtain two raised points 5 ', 6' that the floor is considered to extend between). For example, it consists of projecting two innermost points 5, 6 at right angles to the plane of the bottom plate in FIG. 2.

Either of the two methods can be used to form the bottom of the overmolded member of the present invention.

1 and 2, the distal parts of the side walls 3, 4 are slightly inclined towards each other. Therefore, in cross section, for example in cross section AA, the overmolded member 1 forms an open interior space formed by the upper surface of the plate 2 and by the two walls 5, 6. do. As shown, this interior space preferably has a floor 7 which forms the bottom of the open interior space defined by the overmolded member, which in this embodiment is C-shaped. -It's shape. All hooks 38 protrude from this bottom or bottom 7, while the hook does not protrude from the inner surfaces of the two end walls 3, 4. The hooks 38 can be arranged in any desired manner, preferably, as shown, they are arranged in columns and rows, in particular in any given column whose heads alternately towards the left and right of the figure. It is arranged as shown to face.

The longest distance D ₀ measured in the direction perpendicular to the walls, ie in the direction horizontal in FIG. 2, is the distance between the two walls at height h . This is greater than the distance d ₀ between the two end edges. The same relationship is confirmed in the embodiment shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, this embodiment is the same for all cross sections along the longitudinal direction between the front and rear walls 8, 9, since in this example the walls and edges are straight. However, an embodiment may be considered in which the cross section changes, for example, walls and edges having a certain amount of curvature from top to top, for example circular arch or elliptic curvature, or any other conceivable. It may have a curvature of shape. Then a relationship where D ₀ is _greater than d ₀ is valid for each cross section.

The overmolded member also has front and rear walls 8, 9. The front and rear walls 8, 9, the side walls 3, 4 and the bottom bottom 7 form an open interior space in which the hooks lie. Each front and rear wall 8, 9 has a respective upper edge 10, 11 extending from one side edge 5 to the other opposite side edge 6. These edges 10, 11 are C-shaped in this example. The sealing gaskets 13 extend along the upper edges 10, 11 of the front and rear walls 8, 9.

As seen from above, the inner upper edges of the walls 8, 9 are straight lines. These lines may otherwise be straight and may have any shape, in particular having one or more curved portions.

The member 1 described above is designed to be placed in a mold, in which a liquid foam is poured into the mold, which is hardened to the side walls 5, 6 and the bottom of the plate 2 by curing to secure the hooks to the molded foam article. To the surface and to the outer faces of the front and rear walls 8, 9.

Within the mold, one or more pedestals 12 in the shape of the rails protrude from the inner wall 16 of the mold, which defines a volume having the shape of the article produced by the molding. This may provide one or more pedestals as a function of the number of troughs to be formed in the finished molded article to place the hooks therein. In particular, it is possible to provide an arrangement of pedestals forming an arrangement of troughs, some of which may be curved. In order to prevent the foam from being poured onto the hooks, or to prevent it from coming in contact with it, the hooks must be protected from coming into contact with the poured foam while the foam is being poured. To this end, the overmolded member (s) with hooks are clipped or clamped with force on the pedestal (s), with the hooks facing the pedestal. On any given pedestal, it is possible to place a single overmolded member or to place a plurality of members behind one another, in which case they are spaced apart from each other, as in the second aspect of the invention, or They can be placed very close together or, in fact, end to end, if desired.

The rail 12 has two opposing sides 30, 31. Viewed from above, ie along the arrow F of FIGS. 4 and 5, these faces are in the shape of straight lines. They can therefore have the same shape as the inner upper edges 5, 6 of the side walls 3, 4.

When measured in a direction perpendicular to the two faces 30, 31 (horizontal to the drawing), which is the direction corresponding to the thickness of the rail, the distance D between the two faces 30, 31 is: It is substantially the same but slightly larger than the distance d ₀ measured in the same direction between the two upper edges 5, 6 of the side walls 3, 4.

When the rail does not have a constant thickness along the longitudinal direction in which the rail extends (perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 4 or 5), the thickness D measured at each cross section is the level at which the measurement is made (along the longitudinal direction). Is substantially equal to the distance d ₀ between the two innermost end edges 5, 6, but slightly larger, the shapes of the faces of the rail are complementary to the shapes of the end edges. Thus, for example, it may be possible to provide a circular arch shape rather than a straight shape for the faces 30, 31 and for the edges 5, 6, and it is important that the rails between the faces and the edges between the sidewalls are located. It is of substantially the same shape to provide a seal from the foam when inserted.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, when the overmolded member 1 contacts the faces 30, 31 of the pedestal 12 during casting, this contact is made to the end edges 5, 6. On at least straight lines formed by the. In the embodiment shown, this contact occurs on planes in contact with these lines.

The rail 12 also has an upper portion of a shape complementary to the shape of the upper edges 10, 11 of the front and rear walls 8, 9. Therefore, in this example, the upper portion of the rail 12 is C-shaped or corresponding to the C-shaped or to the circular arch shape of the upper edges 10, 11 of the front and rear walls 8, 9. It is circular arch shape. Between the two edges 5, 6 the pedestal 12 is pressed against the member 1 such that the two sidewalls are clamped so that the top 15 has two upper edges 10, 11 of the sidewalls 8, 9. These two edges can be moved slightly apart from each other so that the rail can pass through them until they come into contact with them. The elasticity of the two upper end edges means that it provides a seal with which they are in contact with the corresponding sides of the rail, since the two walls tend to return towards each other by elasticity, and the upper edges of the walls 8, 9 This is because the sealing ribs 13, where the ribs are found between the top of the rail 12 and the rail 12, provide a good seal against the hooks while the foam is being poured.

In the improvement shown in FIG. 10, two ribs protruding laterally from the two sides 30, 31 of the rail may be provided. The maximum width of the rail in any given cross section is the distance D between the two outermost points of the two ribs, which distance D is greater than the distance d ₀ .

In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 16, it is possible to provide two longitudinal channels on two opposing sides 30, 31, which are described to accommodate end sides by snap-fastening. It is.

The two embodiments described above are improvements using clip fastening or snap fastening. However, they are not essential on their own in order to obtain the effect of the present invention, and this effect is for example due to the fact that two walls moved away to the outside tend to return inward while being supported against the rail. Obtained each time a pedestal is inserted between two sidewalls while maintaining mutual contact.

Once the foam has been cast and the foam has cured, the molded article is removed from the mold. Longitudinal trough 15 (whose longitudinal direction is perpendicular to FIG. 3) is formed on the outer surface of the molded article, which trough has a shape that is substantially complementary to the shape of the rail 12. The foam extends all around the overmolded member 1 except on the bottom of the open inner space and on the inner faces below the end edges. In particular, the foam extends to the innermost points 5, 6 of the upper edges of the two walls until it covers the upper surfaces of the two side walls 3, 4. The foam forms two vertical faces 50, 51 of the trough, which vertical walls form a U-shaped branches of the shaped article from the top hole of the trough opened onto the outside of the shaped article. Extend to the upper edges of each of 3, 4). Hook-free end segments of the inner surface of the overmolded article are substantially parallel and continuous with the vertical faces 50, 51. The transition from the vertical faces 50, 51 to each inner segment is smooth without any nonuniformity, especially at the joint.

3A, 3B and 3C show portions of each resulting molded article. Naturally, depending on the molded article, it is possible to provide a plurality of troughs of this type, each having one or more members with hooks of the present invention. In particular, it is possible to provide a very long length pedestal that is clamped by a plurality of spaced overmolded members to obtain a trough with a number of spaced overmolded members thereunder.

Once molding of the foam article comprising one or more overmolded members with hooks is complete, it is necessary to cover it with a cover or covering, especially when the molded article is an automobile cushion. The cover is in particular connected to the members with loops which fit snugly over the shape of its outer surface and which work together with the hooks to cover and secure the cover to the molded article.

A member with loops of this type is shown in FIG. 6. It has a pocket 20 constituted by a sheet of textile material folded on itself, with loops extending from the outer surface of the pocket. These loops 21 may in particular have been knitted or knitted on the outer surface of the pocket 20. The two parts in the shape of the sheets 22, 23 forming the cover overlap at their edges and the pocket is the side of the two edges to join the two sheets 22, 23 to form a cover (see FIGS. 13 and 14). Is sewn on. Therefore, the pocket 20 at the joint between the two sheets 22, 23 is in contact with the hooks to fix the cover around the molded article, especially along the walls and outlines of the trough 15. It is inserted into the bottom of the trough 14.

7 and 8 show side views (with molded articles omitted) of the fastening between the loops and the hooks. Two overmolded members 1 with hooks are for example arranged at the bottom of the trough. Naturally, the trough can extend longitudinally over a longer distance to provide two or more members with hooks therein.

Also in this embodiment, a wire 24 consisting of a cylindrical bar of rigid plastic material has been inserted into the pocket 20 of the member with loops to reinforce the entire assembly. The rigid wire of plastic is for example made of polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE) and has a diameter of at least 2 mm. However, it is also possible to provide hollow wires, ie tubular-shaped wires. If the rigid wire 24 is not in the pocket 20 in the middle region between the two members 1 with hooks, a riding effect will occur such that the pocket 20 is in the manner of a tent as shown in FIG. 7. It will ride up to be transformed into an arc, ie it will be arched.

Conversely, when the rigid wire 24 is disposed inside the member 20, the riding effect disappears as shown in FIG. Therefore, the two members 1 shown in FIG. 7 are spaced apart from each other when there is no wire 24, and when the wire 24 is positioned in the pocket 20, there is no spaced apart from the target at a predetermined distance. do. In particular, this distance may correspond to a distance greater than in the range of 20 mm to 25 mm, or may correspond to a distance greater than the range of 150 mm to 200 mm, assuming that the distance can easily reach 80 mm.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the thickness D of the rail 12 is preferably in the range of 8 mm to 16 mm, more preferably in the range of 9 mm to 12 mm. However, this range of thickness dimensions is also valid for other embodiments shown in the figures.

In the embodiment corresponding to FIGS. 3B, 4B and 5B, the pedestal is tapered downward (ie in the direction indicated by arrow F). This is the trough shown in FIG. 3B with the width tapering towards the top hole. However, as in the embodiment of FIG. 3A, the innermost points 5, 6 of the upper edges of the two walls do not protrude from the two faces 50, 51 of the groove 50. The same applies to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3C.

11 shows the assembly of FIG. 8 in cross section through the trough 15. The width of the trough is measured horizontally with respect to the drawing. The sum of the diameter of the wire and twice the thickness of the sheet folded on itself to form a pocket is substantially equal to the width of the trough. In particular, the walls of the pocket and the trough are flush with each other.

FIG. 12 shows another embodiment in which the wire is an elliptical cross section having a major axis extending outwardly from the bottom of the trough, in a direction perpendicular to the drawing. The overall width of the member with the loops (two times the thickness of the pocket and another dimension of the minor axis) is substantially the same as the width dimension of the trough.

In the present application, the interlocking between the molded article and the cover is described by hooks extending from the molded article operating with the loops on the cover. It may be noted that hooks may be provided instead of loops, which hooks may operate with the hooks on overmolded members in a hook-in-hook auto-fixing manner, which is in accordance with the claims. Thus, the term "loop" is the reason why it should be understood in a broader general sense, which also encompasses the fact that loops can be hooks.

FIG. 15 illustrates one embodiment of a shaped article having a trough, including non-straight extending, in particular curved segments. Since the overmolded members do not need to be arranged continuously, in particular end to end in the trough, the assembly is simple and in particular needs to provide overmolded members of the curved shape complementary to the shape of the curved segment of the trough. And long, spaced apart members used for straight segments are also suitable for curved segments of small curvature.

In the present application, the term "hook" refers to any member that has the ability to hang in particular a loop. In particular, the hook is a member comprising a shank and a head that projects laterally from the shank. Therefore, the members of the mushroom, barb, double head, any other similar type of shapes are hooks in the sense of the present invention.

In the first and third aspects of the invention, the interlocking between the molded article and the cover is described by hooks extending from the molded article operating with the loops on the cover. It may be noted that hooks may be provided instead of loops, which hooks may work with hooks on overmolded members in a hook-in-hook auto-fixing manner, which is an example of the present invention. In this first and third aspects, the term “loop” is why it should be understood in a broader general sense, which also encompasses the fact that loops can be hooks. Conversely, in the second aspect, the term "loop" implies the presence of a hole through which the hook member can be passed.

Similarly, within the scope of the first aspect, it may be provided for use with a plurality of such members or with a single overmolded member on any given pedestal, in which case they are spaced apart from each other by a certain distance (which is the invention Within the scope of the first aspect of), very close to, or, if desired, end to end.

1: element
2: plate
3, 4: wall as branch
5, 6: Line as innermost point
7: middle bottom segment or floor as bottom
8: front wall
9: rear wall
10, 11: edge
12: pedestal
13: sealing gasket
15: groove or gutter
20: pocket
21: loop
22, 23: cover
24: wire
38: hook

Claims (14)

Firstly, as an overmolded element with hooks, designed to be overmolded in a molded article, the overmolded member is an open interior space defined by two end sidewalls and a bottom. A protruding from which one or more hooks extending from the member protrudes therefrom or some hooks extending from the member;
Secondly, the mold having inner wall (s) forming an inner volume shaped like an article to be formed by molding in a mold, wherein at least one pedestal is internal from the inner wall (s). The overmolded member protruding into the volume and having hooks is in contact with the pedestal while a forming foam is cast, the pedestal having a rail-side having two opposing outer sides, in particular parallel sides. Comprising a shaped portion;
In the assembly comprising a, the assembly,
While the foam is being cast, each end sidewall of the overmolded member is in contact with each opposing outer side without hooks interposed therebetween. The method according to claim 1,
Said overmolded member having hooks clamps said pedestal between two sidewalls. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
For each wall, the contact occurs along one or more respective lines, in particular straight lines. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Wherein said contact between said member having hooks and said pedestal takes place by clipping. 5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
While the foam is being cast, some of the hooks, in particular all of the hooks, are distanced from the rail. 6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
And the hook does not protrude from the inner surfaces of the end sidewalls. 7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
Each sidewall of the member having hooks has an innermost end edge, the height of the highest point of the hooks being less than the height of the innermost end edges; The pedestal comprises a rail-shaped portion having two opposite outer sides spaced apart with shapes identical to those of the end edges of the sidewalls of the overmolded member, the thickness of the rail being measured in a given direction; And the distance between the two side surfaces is slightly greater than the distance between two end edges of the two side walls in the given direction. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The two sidewalls, when viewed in cross section, have a C-shape, circular arch shape, or similar shape, slightly inclined toward each other. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The overmolded member has front and rear walls, the walls extending transverse to the sidewalls, and the pedestal has a top having a shape complementary to the shape of the upper edges of the front and rear walls. And sealing ribs optionally interposed with respect to the upper edges of the walls, the sealing ribs extending along the upper edges of the front and rear walls. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
The overmolded member extends outwardly beyond the two sidewalls to form one or more outer brims. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
In order to define, the bottom is defined by the smallest surface that defines the interior space in which all hooks are placed. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
In each cross section, the two innermost points 5 and 6 delimit the interior space to obtain two protruding points 5 'and 6' between which the bottom is considered to extend. An assembly projecting on said inner surface. A molded article having a main body made of a molding material, in particular a thermoplastic foam, and an overmolded member having hooks of the assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the member is overmolded on the molded main body The foam in cross section over the entire periphery of the overmolded member, except for an area corresponding to an inner space such that a groove or trough opened outwardly of the molded body is formed on the overmolded member. In contact with an overmolded member, the trough having a shape complementary to the shape of the rail having at least one thickness corresponding to the distance (s) between the two inner upper edges of the two sidewalls of the pedestal; Molded articles. A method for producing a molded article, in particular a molded article according to claim 12, wherein a mold having the same shape as the article to be molded is produced, and a rail-shaped pedestal protrudes from the wall of the mold defining the volume of the mold. In a method comprising the configured steps,
The method comprises two sides of the pedestal along two or more respective lines of contact in such a way as to seal the interior space between the two walls of the overmolded member and to pour a foam to form the article. And clamping the pedestal by the overmolded member with a bottom protruding from the two sidewalls spaced and the hook protruding so that the two sidewalls of the member have hooks relative to the support. .

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